50 fcErARTMENf OF AGRICULTURE GEORGIA. 



Of these the Pekin is the largest and most showy, is a voracious 

 feeder, and when well fattened makes a fine table fowl. 



The voraciousness of these birds is an objection to them unless 

 they are grown on the farm where there is much waste from the 

 grain fed to stock. 



The Pekin is the largest variety of ducks ; plumage pure white, 

 beak and legs bright yellow. The profit in breeding them depends 

 upon the cost of the food furnished them. If it must be purchased 

 there will be little if any profit in breeding them. 



THE AYLESBURY 



Is a favorite variety with many breeders and is a very valuable bird. 

 They, too, are voracious feeders, but consume so much that chickens 

 will not, that they can be largely supported on waste. 



Mr. Fowler, good authority on such subjects, says of the Ayles- 

 bury : 



"My idea of a perfect Aylesbury drake and duck is, that in plum, 

 age they should be of the finest snow white all over. The head 

 should be full, and the bill well set on to the skull, so that the beak 

 should seem to be almost in a line from the top of the head to the 

 tip. The bill should be long, and when viewed from the front ap- 

 pear much like a woodcock's. It should be, in prize birds, of a deli- 

 cate flesh color, without spot or blemish, and with a slight fleshy 

 excrescence where the feathers commence. If it occasionally has a 

 very slight creamy tint it would not disqualify, but any approach to 

 dark buff or yellow is fatal to the pen ; eye full, bright and quite 

 ~black. The legs should be strong, with the claws well webbed, and 

 in color of a rich dark yellow or orange. Body rather long, but broad 

 across the shoulders, and the neck rather long and slender. The 

 drake should have one and sometimes has two sharp curls in his tail. 

 The weight of each bird in a show-pen ought to be about nine 

 pounds, but this is not very often attained." 



These ducks commence to lay in winter, and if not allowed to sit 

 themselves they will lay a large number of good sized eggs during 

 the season. A large number of the ducklings may be put with a 

 single hen in a close warm pen where they are fed liberally upon 

 meal mixed with boiled meat chopped fine. They will grow very 

 rapidly under this treatment, and when two months old be ready 

 for market. They should be kept supplied with fresh, clear water 



